On December 07, 2023, your esteemed newspaper published an editorial entitled 'Now loan from WB, ADB for Rohingya!,' which contains several inaccuracies.
Let me reassure you that the World Bank is committed to helping Bangladesh address the needs of the host community and the displaced Rohingya people until their safe and voluntary return to Myanmar. Any new support that the World Bank Board of Directors will consider will be aligned with Bangladesh's own mandates, including that the country will receive grants, not loans to finance services and support the resilience of the displaced Rohingya people.
We are currently engaged in preliminary discussions with the government to determine the scope of the next phase of World Bank support, which includes two new projects, to cater to the needs of both the displaced Rohingya population and the host communities in the Chattogram Division. I want to emphasize that all project activities related to the Rohingya population under these projects will be financed by grants. Other planned financing to benefit the local population in the Chattogram division will follow the standard World Bank's IDA terms.
The World Bank greatly appreciates the exceptional generosity shown by Bangladesh in providing shelter to the displaced Rohingya population. In the immediate aftermath of the forced exodus, the World Bank had mobilized $590 million, entirely on grant terms for five projects to address the needs of the host communities and the displaced Rohingya until their safe, voluntary, and dignified return to Myanmar. These projects included critical support for health, education, social safety nets, and basic service delivery. Our research and analytics also help inform policy dialogue, support development priorities, and apply lessons learned.
The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh. Since independence, the World Bank has committed about $40 billion in grants, interest-free and concessional credits to the country. Currently, Bangladesh has the largest IDA program of the World Bank with a total of $16.46 billion commitment to 57 ongoing projects.
Abdoulaye Seck
Country Director for Bangladesh
and Bhutan